Social Networking and Building Your Online Community Jim Harris Marketing and Communication Ohio University Alumni Association

Jim Harris, BBA 04 - Marketing Ohio University Assistant Director Marketing and Communication Ohio University Alumni Association - Affinity Partners - Merchandising - Bobcat Store - The [Gateway] My Gateway and Facebook profile photo

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

Topics - What an Online Community is - Who has Access - What it Costs to Build and Maintain - How its Controlled - How an Online Community might benefit your institution

What an Online Community is An online community is a group of people that primarily interacts using the Internet. This group of people invites members of their own personal, alumni networks to join the Community. New members repeat the process. Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

Who has Access Ohio University degree-holding alumni Other individuals granted access with permission - students with alumni group connection - recent alumni without an ID - non-graduates Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

What it Costs to Build and Maintain To Build:To Maintain: - money - time - graphics - technology - data - marketing - money Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

How its Controlled Alumni ID number Other controls - trust/ hope - OUAA staff - users - delete account Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

How an Online Community might benefit your relationship/ institution - connects alumni, 24/7 - information updates to database - gives alumni a reason to visit Web site - wow factor Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

How an Online Community might be harm your relationship/ institution - spam-like messages from alumni - alumni spreading bad news - new/ confusing technology - right people arent active Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

Topics - How alumni are using THE GATEWAY - Whos using the Site - Types of Marketing used - Problems weve had - Gateway ideas - Goals for 2007

THE GATEWAY A web community, exclusively for Bobcat alumni Launched September 2005 Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

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- 24 hours after message = 301 users logging in - previous days = average of 50 users

Jim, those photos brought back some great memories. And reminded me I need to get back to campus. Thank you for taking the time to share. I can't believe an OU building has an ESCALATOR!!! Wow. Hi Jim. Your new pictures are just great. I particularly enjoyed the shots of the new Baker Center. When I was a freshman, the old Baker Center had just been completed. If my son ends up at Ohio U. this Fall he will be there when the new Baker Center has just been completed.

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Types of Marketing Social Networking and Building Your Online Community - Full page and half page ads in magazine - Cover story in newsletter - Ads/ blurbs in magazine and newsletter - Gateway-specific s - Making Tracks s - Word of Mouth - Facebook messages to alumni

Gateway promotions Social Networking and Building Your Online Community Ohio Today The [college] Gate Making Tracks Gateway-specific

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community Advertising space

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community Advertising space

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community Total Resumes uploaded by users 326 Total Pictures uploaded 6,888 Total number of users with a profile photo 1,528 Total number of users with journal entries 325 Number of events posted 294

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community Number of users that logged in between Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. through Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. 60 Number of users that logged in between Oct. 26 – Nov Number of users that logged in between Oct. 2 – Nov. 2 1,283

Registered Users Total Net Messages Total Updates Total # GroupsActive Users Friend Connections Ohio University 6, , ,01114,811 Avg. of Like Communities 3,4831,00145, ,387 Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

GATEWAY Problems - Mr. Sullivan - Angelina Jolie - F***ing Blog titles - Does Sex Count? - OU press - Teddy

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community GATEWAY Ideas - Black Alumni Reunion Group - Campus tour photos with captions - Konneker Alumni Center photos - Student profiles, albums and journals - Fossil watch and campus photography - Winter photos - Exclusive campus photo tours

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community GATEWAY Ideas - Find your Roommates Challenge - Academic buildings - Scan yearbooks/ newspapers - Going out for coffee - A night on the town - Student presentations - Alumni books and articles - Chapter events

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community GATEWAY Goals - Engage all users, not just F-o-F - Add a How-to section for site - Invite seniors to join alumni network - Help users get friends registered - Inform deans about sites power - Faster uploads of recent graduates - Encourage events

Social Networking and Building Your Online Community

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